The news today that HMAS Choules limped back to Sydney with a propulsion problem last week again highlights the parlous state of Australian navy’s amphibious ship fleet.
HMAS Choules was due to participate as a support ship during Exercise Hamel in the Shoalwater Bay Training Area but never made it to Queensland, turning around after the ship’s propulsion power was reduced by 50 per cent.
Shadow Defence Minister David Johnston said HMAS Choules was purchased from the United Kingdom last year to fill the gaping hole left in the amphibious ship fleet due to problems with HMAS Tobruk, HMAS Sirius and HMAS Success.
“This Government has hardly painted itself in glory with the management of its amphibious fleet, and we are now facing the lowest level of funding in Defence since 1938 so I am not inspired with confidence that this is going to get better any time soon,” Senator Johnston said.
The rest of the amphibious ships in the navy have faced massive problems in recent years.
Senator Johnston said it was revealed in the recent Senate Estimates hearings that HMAS Tobruk has cost $65 million over the past three years with little or no capability to show for it.
“I am advised it will be ready for sea trials soon but it is due for decommissioning in 2014,” Senator Johnston said.
HMAS Sirius has been in planned maintenance for most of this year and HMAS Success has not been operational since December 2010, with $86 million spent on the ship to try to rectify its problems.
“The Defence Minister must be hoping against hope against another cyclone in the near future because we simply don’t have the amphibious capability available to deploy and assist.”
Senator Johnston said Labor’s recent Budget cuts of $5.5 billion will leave our Defence force in such a vulnerable position that our nation’s ability to defend itself or assist in the region has been severely compromised.